Dreamcatcher's Gahyun Rebrands as Lee Seo Yul, Signs with Acting Agency Hogiroun Company

Dreamcatcher's youngest member Gahyun (이가현) is making the jump to acting under an entirely new identity. On March 24, 2026, Hogiroun Company announced the signing of an exclusive contract with Gahyun, who will now promote under the acting stage name Lee Seo Yul (이서율), according to an official statement released by the agency. The move comes exactly one year after Gahyun formally departed from Dreamcatcher Company in March 2025, a transition she has since insisted was separate from her desire to pursue acting. Hogiroun Company's existing roster includes actors Ha Suho, Kim Myungjun, Ki Hyunwoo, Oh Soojeong, and Jo Eun Seo. The agency described their new signing as possessing "a unique charm that shines on camera, solid stage presence, and natural acting abilities." Gahyun debuted as the maknae (youngest member) of the seven-member girl group Dreamcatcher in January 2017 and has continued to participate in group activities despite her departure from the original label.

From Gahyun to Lee Seo Yul

The name change is intentional and complete. Lee Seo Yul is a dedicated acting stage name, separate from the "Gahyun" identity she built over nearly a decade in Dreamcatcher. The announcement came directly from Hogiroun Company on March 24, confirmed via their official press release, framing the signing as the beginning of a new professional chapter. The agency's statement positioned Lee Seo Yul as a performer with a distinctly different presentation from her K-pop persona, introducing her to the industry fresh. For fans, the reassurance is in the specifics: nothing about this signing changes her standing in Dreamcatcher. Lee Seo Yul will continue as Gahyun when the group is active. The dual-identity arrangement is well-established in Korean entertainment, where group members routinely sign with separate management for individual pursuits while their group contract operates on a separate track.

The Acting Ambition Predates the Label Drama

When Gahyun left Dreamcatcher Company in March 2025, the K-pop internet had questions. The label had limited reach for individual member projects, and the timing raised eyebrows. Gahyun moved quickly to set the record straight. On fan communication platform Fromm, she clarified that her desire to act had nothing to do with the contract situation, a statement confirmed widely through fan translations on Reddit's r/dreamcatcher community. She also told fans, according to her March 2025 post on Dreamcatcher's official fancafe, to think of her continued participation in the group as "a new beginning." The real reason behind her contract decision, she added, was a private matter she was not able to share. What is clear: the acting pivot was always on her own terms, not a fallback plan. The March 24 announcement simply makes official what she had been signaling for over a year.

Who Is Hogiroun Company?

Hogiroun Company is a Korean acting agency with a roster that skews toward recognizable drama faces. Current clients include Ha Suho, Kim Myungjun, Ki Hyunwoo, Oh Soojeong, and Jo Eun Seo. It is a mid-tier boutique operation rather than a powerhouse agency, which could work in Lee Seo Yul's favor. Smaller agencies often offer K-pop crossover talent more room to build a screen resume without the commercial pressure of landing a headline role immediately. The agency's focus on actors rather than idols also signals that this signing is about building a proper acting career, not a side project. For an industry debut, Hogiroun gives her the infrastructure and the direction. The first real test will be which projects she gets attached to and how soon the industry responds.

Somnya React: Pride Mixed with Bittersweet

Dreamcatcher's fanbase, known as Somnya, has been tracking this journey since March 2025. The community on Reddit's r/dreamcatcher greeted the March 24 news with cautious celebration. Most fans expressed genuine happiness for Gahyun while acknowledging the unusual situation: rooting for a member who is, for all practical purposes, building a parallel career outside the group's ecosystem. "She's always wanted this," was the prevailing sentiment, a nod to her longstanding acting ambition that predates any label drama. Concerns remain about what a growing acting schedule might mean for Dreamcatcher's future activities, particularly with the group's next comeback still unannounced. But for now, the reaction leans positive. Lee Seo Yul is a fresh start, and Somnya, having followed Gahyun through nine years of dark concept performances and powerful live stages, appear ready to follow her into whatever comes next.

What to Watch For

Lee Seo Yul's next move is the project announcement. Hogiroun Company's signing statement introduced her but offered no details on pending roles or productions in progress. The timeline for a screen debut remains open. Meanwhile, Dreamcatcher's activities continue with Gahyun participating as a member, meaning the immediate priority is visibility over scheduling conflicts. How she builds her acting profile, whether through supporting roles in streaming dramas or a slower build through smaller productions, will define how seriously the industry treats the transition. K-pop artists who have successfully crossed into acting took different routes to get there. Lee Seo Yul's path is still being drawn. What is already on record is that she has the stage presence and the drive. Now she needs the right material to prove it translates to the screen.